Mortgage Loan Rates and Applications Lower

Photo of Paul Ausick
By Paul Ausick Updated Published

House for Sale

Thinkstock
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly report on mortgage applications this morning, noting a drop of 4.7% in the group’s seasonally adjusted composite index, following a rise of 0.2% for the previous week. Mortgage loan rates fell last week.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index decreased by 5% from the most recent report. On an unadjusted basis, the composite index fell 5% week-over-week. The unadjusted purchase index also decreased by 6% for the week and is up about 4% year-over-year.

The MBA’s refinance index fell 4%, after remaining flat in the previous week.

The share of refinancings remained unchanged again at 63%, its lowest level in more than two years. Adjustable rate mortgage loans account for 6% of all applications, flat with the prior week.

The average mortgage loan rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased from 4.61% to 4.56%. The rate for a jumbo 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 4.64% to 4.57%. The average interest rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 3.66% to 3.6%0.

The contract interest rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage loan fell from 3.39% to 3.36%.

Refinancings continue at low levels when compared with the past two years as interest rates continue to bounce around — one week up slightly, the next week down slightly. Year-over-year, the unadjusted purchase index is still improved.

Photo of Paul Ausick
About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

DELL Vol: 42,366,555
NTAP Vol: 15,911,807
NOW Vol: 68,243,561
IBM
IBM Vol: 28,527,546
HPE Vol: 86,996,387

Top Losing Stocks

CTRA Vol: 73,319,495
CLX Vol: 4,744,001
RMD Vol: 3,526,686
INTC Vol: 191,680,425
SWKS Vol: 5,407,806